Chapter 4: Shadows and Piercing Light

[Rukellian]

Go ahead and set up marching order. Whitsell is currently not present but Amberlynn the healer is in your group of 4. Once we get that established I will provide an update.

[Grognardsw]

Whoever has best AC and HP up front, which probably isn't Deceidon. Amber in the middle.

[tooleychris]

Flynn takes the lead, gladly. Eager to see the deed done.

[Rukellian]

As the group enters the mountain entrance, they can already feel the effects of the change in environment. The eversun is no longer beating down on their skin and the air is replaced with a damp coolness, the only lighting a torch mounted on the wall. Similiar wooden support beams can be found keeping the walls and ceiling up, better constructed too from the looks of things. Lot's of footprints can be found navigating in and out of the place, showing that many a bandit has been in here. Deceidon, however, knows from previous information gathering that there is more to be found in here than some missing bandits....

As the group walks in, they notice that the entrance path extends but a short 20 ft before making a turn to the left/west. Just in front of the turn is a torch, still flickering brightly. Flynn grabs the torch and looks to the group to make sure they are all ready before he proceeds, giving an especially long glance at Amberlynn, the concern deeply noted in his eyes.

[Grognardsw]

"Careful of traps, perhaps a trusty 10' pole?" whispers Deceidon, taking up the rear. He tries not be distracted by Amberlynn's rear, checking to make sure his own pole is handy.

[Rukellian]

"Careful of traps, perhaps a trusty 10' pole?" whispers Deceidon, taking up the rear. He tries not be distracted by Amberlynn's rear, checking to make sure his own pole is handy.

If anything were to happen, I'm sure Flynn will have some words with you, some spoken by his rapier...

[NJWilliam]

NPC Gustov follows closely behind Flynn and keeps an eye out for traps and the like. "Watch your step everyone. If the bandits rigged the doors in the tunnel with traps, then there are sure to be some inside this mountain."

[Grognardsw]

Deceidon, arrow nocked to bow, proceeds down the west hallway with the others. He suggests Amberlynn hold the torch so as to leave the fighters free to employ both hands.

[Rukellian]

As Flynn hands the torch over to Amberlynn and begins his descent into the western tunnel, he hears a distinct snapping sound. Looking down to the ground, he notices that he just tripped a very thin wire, not having walked but a few steps into the moutain! He and the group instinctively rush backwards, hoping to avoid a sudden floor collapse, or perhaps a swinging mace or dart attack. What actually happened was quite different from what they had in mind. An empty wine bottle drops from the ceiling above them and then shatters all over the ground!

[tooleychris]

Flynn breaths a sigh a relief.The simplest of alarms, but perhaps a keener eye might accompany me in the fore?"

[NJWilliam]

NPC Gustov starts to walk again, avoiding the shattered glass, when all of a sudden, he hears something up ahead. He freezes instantly and readies one of his throwing daggers. "Wait!" he says in a hoarse whisper! "Did you hear that?"

[tooleychris]

Flynn holds his breath and grips his rapier loosely, straining to hear...

[Rukellian]

The other group members cannot hear anything, but Flynn starts to wrinkle his nose as a foul odor starts to assail his nostrils. Something is indeed coming, Flynn can at least smell it. He too readies his rapier and tells Amberlynn to keep back as far as she can while maintaining the torch light radius.

After a minute of waiting, the foul smells grow stronger, and the rest of the group can now hear some faint shuffling on the ground just ahead, a... moaning sound added in the mix. An arm pierces the darkness ahead and steps into the torchlight. It would appear to be the cloth of a bandit, but as more is revealed, the arm is decayed, and the figure approaches slowly with a heavy limp. From the sounds of things, there appear to be more behind it, though you don't know how many as of right now.

You automatically win initiative when fighting zombies, as stated in the OSRIC monster section, so go ahead and just state your actions and provide those rolls!

[tooleychris]

"What in the nine hells? Even Hades rises against us!" curses Flynn.
"What can steel resolve against those who are dead but walk?"
He does a flurry in the air with his thin blade.
"Time to see if the damned can bleed!"
Flynn charges and attempts to hack a leg off.
Rapier to hit roll [1d20+7] = 18+7 = 25 Damage [1d6+3] = 5+3 = 8

[Grognardsw]

"Back Amberlynn!" hisses Deceidon to the healer. He moves to the right edge of the wall, in hopes of getting clear arrow shots at the malodorous monsters.

- Bow Attack Arrow #1: To Hit [1d20] = 5, Damage [1d6] = 4
- Bow Attack Arrow #2: To Hit [1d20] = 18, Damage [1d6] = 3

[tooleychris]

Flynn whispers back to Deceidon: "Are zombies always this slow? Perhaps we should just walk around them."

Sorry, Ruke. Couldn't resist. know yer busy.

[Rukellian]

*sigh* I'm the one that is sorry. I honestly thought that NJWilliam might come back, guess I'm going to have to npc him until some unfortunate accident occurs where all of his loot is safely in someone elses hands and he falls into a pit trap and doesn't come out....

Hey, @$%# happens.

I will provide an update tomorrow, promise. Most likely after work.

[Rukellian]

"What in the nine hells? Even Hades rises against us!" curses Flynn.
"What can steel resolve against those who are dead but walk?"

He does a flurry in the air with his thin blade.

"Time to see if the damned can bleed!"

Flynn charges and attempts to hack a leg off, and succeeds, but not before Gustov and Deceidon barrage it with arrows and a flying dagger. The zombie is no longer moving and lays on the ground. You want to say you killed it, but... it's already dead. Gustov then clicks his teeth and retrieves his dagger, saying something about dirtying his blades with filthy creatures. As he reaches for his dagger, he momentarily forgets about the other zombies that were behind it. Three sets of arms appear into the torch light and attempt to grab the half elf. All of the hands miss though as Gustov's quick movements elude their attempts. He backs away quickly, embarrassed that he let his guard down so easily.

All enemy attacks miss for this turn and you can now see three more approach. Go ahead and roll for your next set of actions. Remember, you automatically win inititiative when fighting zombies.

[tooleychris]

" We may not be able to kill the dead, but we sure know how to slow'em down! " shouts Flynn hacking at another leg.

:Rapier to hit roll [1d20+7] = 14+7 = 21 Damage [1d6+3] = 5+3 = 8

[Grognardsw]

"Watch out!" exclaims Deceidon as he looses two more arrows at the undead. He tries not to be too unsettled at such necromantic monsters of legend.

Bow Attack Arrow #1: To Hit [1d20] = 19, Damage [1d6] = 5
Bow Attack Arrow #2: To Hit [1d20] = 5, Damage [1d6] = 6